2. T Ball and 8U will play rain outs either on Sunday afternoons or on a scheduledpractice day once games have started. The league will schedule these rainouts.

3. Practice Dates – Additional practice dates can be requested for Saturday’s andSunday’s. Please do not abuse this. If you schedule a practice on a weekendyou are expected to keep that date once you schedule it. If you have to cancel arequested practice notify our web person ASAP.

4. Request a Time or Request a Field a. When making your request please list what your priority is first in your email.

i. If you desire a time then request that and we will try to accommodate that time, or as close to that time as possible.ii. If you desire a location then request your field first. If you request any PW field we will try to keep you there. If you request any other field we will try to keep you on a Hampden Township field.

b. The goal here is to minimize the number of times we need to email coaches. Ideally field request for practices should be a send and receive and that’s it. For rain outs for the 10U, 12U and 14U coaches we understand it may be more emails. Please be flexible and reasonable in your requests, and what you receiver in return.

Many of us will play games this week with the likely hood of some thunder or lightning being possible during your warm ups and games. Below this email is CV Softball Associations Policy on Thunder and Lightning. It is important to note that this policy is the same as ASA whom our association is a member as well as the PIAA guidelines for all outdoor sporting activity. Most of us grew up when we needed to SEE lightning to stop a game. Today's procedures are much more strict. Please read the remaining email carefully so you are aware of the safety procedure when it comes to Thunder and Lightning.

Point of Emphasis - If you hear Thunder suspend the game immediately and seek shelter. If you see Lightningsuspend the game immediately and seek shelter. Your opposing coaches and umpires are required to follow the same procedures. Please review the procedure below for full compliance.

CV Softball Thunder & Lightning Guidelines for Safe Play.

We follow guidelines established by both ASA softball and the PIAA for both junior high and high school sports. In summary, if you hear thunder the game is suspended. If you see lightening, the game is suspended. The suspension is for 30 minutes after the last sight of lightening or sound of thunder. Below is an excerpt from the ASA rule Book.

If activity has been suspended due to lightning or thunder, the designated weather watcher should wait at least 30 minutes after the last lightning flash or sound of thunder prior to resuming activity.Each time additional lightning is observed or thunder is heard, the minimum 30-minute waiting period should be reset.A clear sky or lack of rainfall are not adequate indicators for resuming play. The minimum 30-minute return-to-play waiting period should not be shortened. Play should not be resumed even after the 30-minute waiting period if any signs of thunderstorm activity remain in the area or if the weather forecast indicates the threat is not over.

If you have any questions please contact your division coordinator or a board member. Your game umpire is aware of these guidelines. When it comes to player safety the HEAD COACH needs to make sure the inclement weather guideline is ALWAYS followed.

B. Jewelry: Players must not wear any jewelry (except medical bracelets and headbands).

C. General Equipment Guideline: Players may only use the equipment furnished by the sponsoring organization except:

1. May use own bat with the approval of the minor league representative.

2. On all bats "Official Softball or ASA approved" must be displayed and be legible.

D. Coach/Player Conduct with Equipment: Coaches and players cannot throw any equipment. Players throwing a bat: the first time is a team warning. The second time any player throws a bat the batter is declared out -dead ball. (No play).

1. No cell phone use during the game on the playing field by any coach or player.

F. Mouthpieces or defensive face masks are strongly recommended for all players.

III. PLAYERS, COACHES, SUBSTITUTES

A. Team Conduct: No intentional roughness by one player against another. For example: tripping, deliberately crashing into, pushing, pulling, and hitting. No swearing. No bad name calling of members of the other team. Terms such as no hitter, easy out, swing, etc. are not allowed.

B. Substitution: Free substitution of players in the field is allowed.

IV. THE GAME

A. Starting Time: All games will start at 1:00 p.m. Pre-game warm-ups are to be from 12:30 p.m. to 12:40 p.m. for the home team and from 12:40 p.m. to 12:50 P.M. for the visiting team. Coach’s conference with umpire is to be conducted at 12:55.

B. Game Length: All games are 80 minutes finish the inning. There is no unlimited last inning in fall ball. There will be a 15 minute break between games.

C. Game Stoppage: Games are to be stopped in case of inclement weather. If you need to cancel an umpire, text Mike Pehanic, 903-6594 (cell) by 11:00 AM. Otherwise, your organization will incur a $15 fee. Once the game has started, the umpire shall decide if the game cannot be continued or when the last inning will begin. If a game cannot be resumed, it is officially over if at the conclusion of three and one half (3½) innings and the home team is winning. If a game is called before it is official, the game is played from the beginning.

Exception: If, at the last minute, an ASA umpire does not show up for a game and another umpire cannot be found, the game may be rescheduled or the coaches may agree to select a parent/etc. to umpire the game. Coaches are not recommended to act as an umpire.

D. Umps: Umpires must be respected and their judgment calls and decisions are final. Protests of games on an umpire’s interpretation of softball rules must be made to the umpire before the next pitch or any subsequent play occurs. The umpire shall then notify the opposing coach and sign both scorebooks at the point of infraction. Verbal notification to a league officer shall follow within twenty-four (24) hours of the protest and shall be further followed with a written protest to the league president within forty-eight (48) hours. This written protest shall list all facts pertinent to the protest and shall also be made available to the umpire-in-chief of the umpires association. The league officers shall arbitrate the protest. Protests of games due to ineligible or illegal players may be made at anytime prior to the close of the regular season. In a protested game where the protest is upheld, the game will resume at the point of protest.

E. Batting Lineup: If a team chooses not to bat everyone in their lineup, they must adhere to ASA substitution rules. If a team chooses to bat every player, free substitution is allowed. (In Disciplinary Action the coach with that player must let the other coach know in advance.)

F. Players: Each player must play at least 2 innings and bat at least once.

1. If a team is playing with nine (9) or more players and there are no available substitutes when a player is injured or becomes ill when advancing on an awarded base or after reaching base and is unable to continue:

A. The most previous batter, not on base, is allowed to replace that player as a courtesy runner until she is out, scores or the half inning ends.

B. When the player who cannot continue her at bat, her position in the batting order shall be skipped over and no out will be called.

C. This injured or ill player may not re-enter the game even if she does have re-entry rights.

D. A team may start with 8 players. If a girl is injured during play and no substitute is available, the game will be called.

2. A courtesy runner may be used for the catcher; the player making the last out will be used as the courtesy runner.

G. Infield Fly: The infield fly rule is in effect.

H. Batting:

1. The team at bat (the offensive team) may score no more than 5 runs per inning.There is no unlimited last inning in fall ball.

I. Fielding:

1. Teams may play with 10 fielders. (4 outfielders: must be positioned in the outfield. No short fielder)

2. Bases must not be blocked by the fielders; they must be accessible to the base runner.

3. If a batted fly ball is caught in bounds and carried out of bounds by the defensive player, the batter is out, the ball is dead and one (1) base will be awarded to the base runner(s).

J. Run Ahead Rule:

1. West Shore Minors will follow ASA Rule 5, Section 9, A.1.b which states that the game will end if there is a 15 run lead after 3, 12 run lead after 4, or 8 run lead after 5.

V. PITCHING REGULATIONS

A. Pitcher Eligibility: A pitcher will be removed from the mound after hitting two batters with a pitched ball in the same inning. The pitcher may return in another inning. If the pitcher hits a total of four batters with a pitched ball in one game, they are to be removed from the mound for the remainder of the game.

B. Pitching Rules:

1. Pitching rules shall be in accordance with ASA. Pitchers are required to have 2 feet on the rubber to begin the pitching motion.

2. Pitchers shall be limited to pitching only 4 innings per game.

3. Innings shall be determined in total innings, not in thirds. 1 pitch in any inning shall constitute 1 inning of pitching.

4. Any player who pitches up at the next level, e.g.18U or higher, will then be ineligible to pitch any future 14U game. The player will still be eligible to play any other fielding position.

Any rule interpretation or question that arises during the season will be